Growing up in the 1970s, it felt like a time of change. We lived in a council house with dad working in a factory and mum managing everything a large family needed. We were all encouraged to work hard with the vision that, if you did, you could become anyone you wanted to be. More working class people were breaking through the glass ceiling, society was becoming more meritocratic. Music played its part in shaping that generation. Tom Robinson’s ‘Sing if you’re glad to be gay’ shocked many people at the time. The Specials were a breath of fresh air with their mix of two-tone ska, blending black and white cultures through their music and diverse line-up. Female musicians were obliterating the male dominated music scene – Suzi Quatro, Patti Smith, Polystyrene, Debbie Harry, Joni Mitchell Music, to name a few. Many bands offered a new vision, with politically charged lyrics about social issues like racism and urban decay. It really resonated with young people like me.
It started me on a lifelong journey to offer alternatives to divisive ideologies and is a reason that The Fuze Foundation exists. It seems clear to me, and billions of others, that equality is a fundamental part of a fair and healthy society. I agree with George Monbiot that true equality, particularly economic and social, is essential for addressing systemic issues like oppression, mental health crises, and the destruction of the environment. As a society we seem to be increasingly individualistic. How many times have you questioned the selfish entitlement that people seem to display? Bullies and stalkers are flourishing online, nature is being trashed, people are in denial about global warming, there is a backlash against LGBTQIA+ communities and asylum seekers. Religious and political extremism seems to be on the rise. These harmful ideologies are leading to hate, loneliness, social breakdown and psychological harm.
At The Fuze Foundation, we believe we need to have equality, hope and to work together for a common purpose, all of which are ideals of Humanism. We need to move beyond a toxic mindset, which misrepresents human nature. As humans we have flourished in the past based on cooperation, altruism, care for our planet and fellow human beings. Our team is passionate about helping people and challenging prejudice wherever it appears. We’re proud to join a rising movement of organisations working to overcome division. Our campaigning work centres on several major areas of social injustice including: equality, diversity, and funeral poverty. We believe in offering real, practical support to those who need it most.
Our team offers families guidance and assistance at the end of life, and over the years we have conducted hundreds of funerals and weddings free of charge. We continue to advocate for greater transparency within the funeral industry and encourage more open conversations about the many ways a life can be honoured—without the need for costs running into thousands of pounds.
Next steps
You can help the foundation by getting in touch or by giving a donation.
Use this link HERE to make a donation to support our work at the Foundation.
About the Author
Anne Widdop established The Fuze Foundation in 2012 and remains active in the promotion of the organisation. She is a Humanist and strongly believes in equality, diversity and freedom of expression. Although she is an atheist, she believes everyone has the right to choose their own beliefs and as a society we need to learn to live with and respect other people’s choices.
